Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Health when the planning application for the children's hospital will be lodged; the estimated start; when it will be completed; the estimated cost as of 28 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19813/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The new children's hospital is a commitment in the Programme for Government and is a priority for me and for this Government. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is responsible for delivering the new hospital on schedule, to optimal design and value for money. The Board’s membership reflects the skills and expertise required to achieve that, including construction, planning, engineering, procurement and architecture as well as clinical and stakeholder involvement.The Board is now in the final phase of the selection process for the appointment of a design team. The full design team is expected to be appointed in June, following which design development will begin, in order to submit an application for planning permission in February 2015. Construction is scheduled to commence in August 2015, and the transition of services to the new hospital is on schedule to commence at the end of 2018.

In October 2013, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform announced that up to €200m would be made available for the new Children’s Hospital from the sale of the National Lottery, adding to the existing €450m Exchequer funding and underlining the Government's commitment to the project. Philanthropic / non-Exchequer funding will be sought as appropriate. The business case for the hospital is currently being revised and updated, and this will set out outline capital costs for the hospital on the St James's campus and potential future revenue savings arising from operational efficiencies. Estimates set out in the revised business case will be reviewed and refined at each stage of the project.